Closure applying machine



April 15, 9 8 D. w. TIANO 2, 30,415

' CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1955 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.l

/ F' INVENTOR.

Jam/7m: M 77am A TTORNEY April 15, 1958 D. w. TlANO 2,830,415

CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Filed Marsh 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [N V EN TOR. Dominic 14 77am B Y A TTOR/VE Y April 15, 1958 D. w. TIANO 2,830,415

CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Filed March 22, 1955 I 5 Sheets-Sheet :5

Fig. I0

Fig. I2

4 l INVENTOR. A BYfiw m'c 11 772100 g '3 I 6mm- ATVTORNEY Unitfid States Patent O CLOSURE APPLYING MACHINE Application March 22, 1955, Serial No. 496,032

9 Claims. (Cl. 53-112) This invention relates to a closure applying machine.

.The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improved closure applying machine having provision for transferring successive filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to closure applying mechanism, and wherein novel provision is made for purging with an inert gas and in a novel, superior and efficient manner, the space above the contents of the filled containers immediately prior to the application of the closures thereto.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafter appear the invention consists in the closure applying machine and in the various structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification. t

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a closure applying machine provided with transfer mechanism embodying the present purging apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the transfer mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;'

Fig. 4 is a partial cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views taken on the lines 55 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a plan view as seen from the line 77 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional plan 88 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a partial cross sectional detail view. taken 0 the line 9-9 of Fig. 7;

Fig.,10 is a detail plan view of valve member shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 11 is a similar view of a modified form;of valve member;

Fig. 12 is a cross sectional view of a modified form of purging apparatus embodying the present invention; and

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of a portion of the purging apparatus shown in Fig. 1 in a different position of operation.

In general the present inventioncontemplates a. closure applying machine having purging apparatus for purging with an inert gas the space above the contents of filled containers to reduce'to a minimum the oxygen content in the space above the filling heightimmediately prior to the application of the closure whereby to prevent oxidization of those liquid food products which are particularly susceptible to contamination upon prolonged exposure to air. The invention is hereinrillustrated as embodied in a. rotary closure applying machine which may be of the type illustrated and described in the view taken on the line closure to containers, such as bottles or jars, and which is provided with rotary transfer mechanismfor transferring the filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying mechanism. As herein shown in accordance with the present invention, provision is made for introducing an inert gas such as nitrogen, into the tops of the containers during the transfer operation, the purging operation being continued to a point immediately prior to the application of the closure to the container.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 represents a closure applying machine of the type provided with a plurality of rotary closure applying heads 12 adapted to apply screw closures to the threaded necks of containers held by clamping members 14, 16 of a revoluble container supporting table 18, as fully illustrated and described in the Everett patent, No. 2,082,048. In operation the screw closures are withdrawn from a supply thereof by transfer arms 20 revoluble with the closure applying heads and which are arranged to deliver successive closures to the applying heads for application to the containers during the continuous movement of the containers through the machine.

In operation successive filled containers 22 are transferred from a supply conveyer 24 into alignment with successive closure applying heads 12 by a toothed rotary transfer spider 26 driven in timed relation to the rotary applying heads, as described in the Everett patent above referred to, the containers being released from the supply conveyer in timed relation to the operation of the transfer spider 26 in any usual or preferred manner, such as by a driven star wheel 28, as shown in Fig. 1. The containers are guided from the supply conveyor between the toothed member 26 and a guide rail 30 to the clamping members 14, 16 which have been previously opened to receive the same. In the operation of the closure applying machine a closure applying head supplied with a closure is arranged to be moved above and in vertical alignment with a container, and the applying head is then arranged to be moved downwardly to apply its closure to the container at a point immediately beyond the transfer mechanism-as indicated in dotted lines at 29 in Fig. 1. Upon application of the closure the applying head is again elevated, and the clamping members 14, 16 are operated to release the closed container at a discharge point 31 between a pair of guide rails 34, 36 arranged to guide the containers onto a rotary conveying disk 38 driven in timed relation to the closure applying machine, the disk 38 being arranged to transfer the containers onto a discharge conveyer, not shown. I

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 the purging apparatus, indicated generally at 40, is carried by and movable with the transfer United States patent "to Everett, No. 2,082,048,. issued I spider 26, the latter being mounted for rotation with a vertical shaft 42. The purging apparatus 40 is mounted on the upper end of the shaft 42, and as best shown in Fig. 3 includes a flat disk 44 having radial passageways 46 formed therein and provided with openings 48 adjacent the outer ends of the passageways arranged for cooperation with the open upper ends of the containers 22 being transferred to the closure applying machine. ,As herein shown, the disk 44 is attached to the underside of a holder 50 by fiat head screws 51, the holder being ar-' ranged to be adjustably clamped to the upper end of a flanged member52 keyed to the shaft 42 as shown. The holder 50 is provided with passageways 54 in communication with the radial passageways 46 at their lower ends. The upper ends of the passageways 54 communicate with openings 56 formed in a lower valve'member 58 carried in an annular groove formed in the upper face of the holder 50. They valve member 58 isarranged to the underside of a stationary cap member 62. Asshown of the machine for maintaining the caparnember station:

ary during the operation of the machine. Theupper valve member 60 is provided with a continuous annular groove 70 in its undersidearranged for communication with the openings 56 formed in the lower valve member 58 ,As best shown in. Fig. 4, the cap member62 is provided withan. adapter 72 which may be connected by a flexible hose.74'to a source of inert .gas. The adapter is arranged to communicate with the annular groove 70 in the upper cap member through an inlet 76 formed in the upper valvememberv 6,0. .As shown in Fig. 9, the lower valve member 58 is connectedto the holder by screws 59, and the upper stationary valvermember .60 is retained in the cap member by screws 61, the heads of the screws being fitted into ,counterbored portions .tl lin their respective valve members to avoid interference with the continuity of the annular grooved passageway 70 formed in the upper valve member. In order to maintain the valve members in airtight relation, an upwardly extended threaded portion of theuholder 50 .is provided with a spring 78 bearing against a knurlednut Stlat itsupper end and against a roller thrust bearing 82 at its lower end, the lower halfof the thrust bearing being carried by the stationaryzcap member 62.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs.-1,,2 and 3 ,a relatively thin disk 44 provided with the passageways'46 is preferably used when the available space above the-tops of the bottles and beneath'the lower surfaces of the transfer arms 20 is relativelysmall. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5., inpractice the radial passageways 46 -are *'formed by first-cutting a relatively deep grooved portion .in the underside thereof and thereafter cutting a lwi'derqand relatively shallow '"groove'dportion therein, the latter groove being provided with a flat plate 86 weldedthereinnto produce the passageways'46, the opening -48:being formed in the plate 86. As illustrated in Figs. 2 iand3, the-space around a major portion of the purging .disk 44 may be enclosed .by ,a shield member 88 which maybeisecured to the guiderail 30 as illustrated, the purging disk .44 and .theshield 83 forming a substantially enclosed area. Thus,;in.operation the nitrogen gas injected intorthe tops of the containers'serves to dilute the air therein.,-.and;to'1flush outthe diluted airand nitrogen gas therefrommduring the transfer operation to remove substantially all .of tl'ieroxygen from the space abovethe contents of the .containers, some of :the nitrogen gas flowing zinto ithe renclose'd area .to maintain an applying machine.

- -n-papnrs i v i 7 with the center line of the containers in the closure As shown in .Fig. 13, the opening 48 remains in operative engagement with the open top of its container substantially to a position indicated at 90 in the rotary path of the closure applying machine whereby to continue injection of the nitrogen gas into the tops of the bottles beyond said point of tangency and for as long a period as possible prior to the application of theclosure.

Referring now to Figs. .3 and 8, it will be observed that the entire purging unit may be detachably clamped to the upper portion of the flange 52 for convenience in rotatably adjusting the unit relative to the containers and also for enabling the unitto be quickly and easily removed for the purpose of adapting ,thetunit for containers of varying heights. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a spacing member 92 is inserted between a shouldered portion of the flange 52 and the lower end of the holder 50, this spacing member being adapted to be replaced with a spacer of different height to accommodate various heights ofcontainers. As shown in Fig. 8, the clamping mechanism may include a clampingnut 94 mounted for sliding movement in a bore 95 formed in the holder 50, the nut 94 beingarranged to cooperate with a bolt 96. As herein shown, the clamping nut 94 :is providedwith a curved edge arranged to engage the cylindrical portion of the flange member 52 wherebytofirmly retain the unit in its clamped position. It will also be observed that the stop bar 66 is provided with an adjusting screw 98 engageable withrthe bottom ofthe slotted portion of the upright 69 in'which the bar is pivoted, the adjusting screw 98 forming a'stop for the bar 66. Thus, in operation when it is desired to modify the transferring and purging apparatus for a different size container, the stop bar 66 mayberocked up out of the wayand the clamp bolt 96 loosened to permit the entire purging unit to be quickly detached and the necessary changes made for accornmodating a different size container, whereuponthe purging unit may be again clamped onto the flange member 52 and the stop bar 66 rocked back into the slot 64 as described. It will be observed that the supply hose 74,

' being flexible, may remainoperatively connected to the atmosphere of nitrogen gas-surrounding the. tops of the v containers during the purging operation.

.Fromthefiescr'iption' thus fiar it .will be seen that in the operation o'f the machinezastream of nitrogen gas'is arranged to be-continuously infected intthe'tops of the cap member 62 during detachment and replacement of the purging unit.

Referring now to Fig. 10, the upper valve member is provided with a continuous annular groove 70 so that in practice the gas is permitted to continuously escape from the openings 48 whether or not the openings are in operative engagement with the open tops of the containers. In a modified form of valve member601 shown in Fig. 11, the valve groove 701 may comprise a slotted portion closed at both ends and extendingsubstantially throughout one-half of the circumference of the valve. In operation the communicating-openings 56- inthe lower valve memher will beclosed during their travel through that portion ofltherotation of the purging disk "44'when the openings containers during their transfer from .the supply conveyer to the closureapplying.machine.v In practice the nitrogenwgasmay be under-alrelatively low pressure,.;sufficient to dilutepand .flush out :the air. in thecontainers, and mayand preferably lwillnhe arranged tocprovideia continuous lfiOW of thenitrogenggas. In this 'mannerzthe. air in the 1topsoflthe bottles above the "contents. is substantially diluted with a nitrogengas tocreduce to a minimum the oxyg'en content inisuchzspace. As shown insFigs. l and .13, air willbe observed that the outlet topeninga48 through which the .gasiiswinjectedinto theatops OfEIhB containers 1 is preferably :oflset Jadially outwardly :from theaxis of; the containers: asubstantial: distance while still maintaining the :opening 48;within the .confines .of -the open top of 1the container. The offset opening per 48 are not in cooperative engagement with the tops of their containers, and during that-portion of the rotation of the disk when the openings 48 are in operative engagement with the tops of their containers the openings 56 ;wil1.be incommunication with thegroove 701, thereby permitting injection of the gas intothe containers. Thus,

in the modified structure of valve member 601 gas is permitted to escape only whenthe openings 48 are in engagement'with the open tops ofthecontainers, thereby effecting aneconorny in theuse of the nitrogen gas.

Referring now=to Fig. 12, in a modified form of the purging apparatus adapted for rotationwith the transfer disk and which is particularly adapted for use where more mits continuinguengagement 'of'thei opening 4'8 with the space'isxavailable above :the tops of the containers, the purging-apparatus may comprise radiallyextended tubular members 100 extended from a central hub portion 102 which is rotatably mounted at the upper end of a vertical stud104; The-hub'portion 102 is provided with an annularchamber 106 which communicates with lateral senate openings 108 in the central stud which in communi-v cates with a central opening 110 formed in the stud. As

herein shown, the stud 104 is provided with a knurled head and is threaded at its lower end for cooperation with an internally threaded portion in the upper end of the transfer disk shaft 112, the shaft having a central bore 114 communicating with the central opening 110 in the stud. The inert gas may be supplied from any usual source thereof through a pipe 116 which communicates with a rotating pressure joint 118 connected to the lower end of the shaft 114 as illustrated. In operation the inert gas under pressure is conducted through the central passageways of the shaft 112 and the stud, 104 into the annular chamber 106 which communicates with the radially extended tubes 100, the tubes being provided with openings 120 adjacent their outer ends for communication with the open tops of the containers arranged to travel therein. As herein shown, the transfer member 122 is secured to a flanged member 124 mounted for rotation with the upper end of the shaft 112, and a spacing member 126 may be inserted between the underside of the hub 102 and a shouldered portion of the flange member 124. Sealing rings 134 may be provided in the stud 104, as shown,

to prevent leakage of the gas above and below the annular chamber 106.

The structure shown in Fig. 12 is also designed to per mit easy removal and replacement of the entire purging unit from the top of the transfer disk to accommodate different size containers by removal of the central stud 104 to permit changing of the spacing member 126. A shielding disk 130 may be detachably supported on the upper end of the hub member 102, the disk being disposed above and extended beyond the outer ends of the purging tubes 100. As herein shown, the disk 130 may be connected to an annular resilient ring 131 which may be pressed over and frictionally retained on'the upper end of the hub 102. The shielding disk 130 cooperates with the upright 'shield member 132 to form an enclosure by which some of the inert gas overflowing from the tops of the containers is retained in surrounding relation to the tops of the containers during the transfer operation.

From the above description it will be seen that the present purging apparatus is particularly adapted for use with a closure applying machine having a rotary transfer mechanism for transferring filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying mechanism and that the purging apparatus is arranged to effect a flow of nitrogen gas into the tops of the filled containers to dilute the air therein during the transfer operation and to continue the purging operation for a substantial distance beyond the point where a container leaves the transfer mechanism and enters the closure applying mechanism and to a point substantially immediately prior to the application of the closure to the container whereby to reduce to a minimum the oxygen content in the space above the filling height of the bottles. In practice the nitrogen gas, being an inert gas, will not tend to escape from the tops of the containers immediately upon being moved out of engagement with the purging apparatus so that when the closure is subsequently applied to the top of the container the space within the top of the container is substantially devoid of air.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described it will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a rotary closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality of continuously moving closure applying heads movable in a rotary path, rotary transfer means for transferring successive filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closurev applying heads, and purging means mounted on and movable with said rotary transfer means for injecting a v 6 stream of inert gas into the tops of successive filled containers during the transfer operation whereby to dilute and flush out the air in the space above the contents in the containers, said purging means being arranged to continue the purging operation to a point immediately prior to the application of a closure to a container, said purging means including a plurality of radial conduits extended horizontally across and closely spaced from the tops of the containers, each conduit having an outlet opening disposed to direct a stream of inert gas vertically downward into the open top of its container, and means the vertical axes of the containers while remaining within the confines of the open'tops of the containers whereby to permit continuance of the purging operation a substantial distance beyond the point of tangency of the rotary paths of the closure applying machine and the transfer means where a container leaves the transfer means and enters the'closure applying machine.

3. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 1 which includes means for detachably clamping the purging means to said rotary transfer means. 7

4. A closure applying machine as defined in claim 1 wherein the conduits comprise radially extended tubes operatively connected to a source of inert gas and exair in the space above the contents in the containers,

said purging means being arranged to continue the purging operation to a point immediately prior to the application of a closure to a container, said purging means including ,a plurality of radial-conduits extended horizontally across and closely spaced from the tops of the containers, each conduit having an outlet opening disposed to direct a stream of inert gas vertically downward into the open top of its container, means for connecting a source of inert gas to said conduits, and means enclosing that portion of the purging means through which the containers are transferred for retaining some of the inert gas overflowing from the tops of the containers to maintain an atmosphere of inert gas surrounding the tops of the containers during the transfer operation.

6. In a rotary closure applying machine, a combination, a plurality of continuously moving closure applying heads movable in a rotary path, rotary transfer means for transferring successive filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying heads, and purging means mounted on and movable with said rotary transfer means for injecting a stream of inert gas into the tops of successive filled containers during the transfer operation whereby to dilute and flush out the air in the space above the contents in the containers, said purging means being arranged to continue the purging operation to a point immediately prior to the application of a closure to a container, said purging means including a plurality of radial conduits extended horizontally across and closely spaced from the tops of the containers, each conduit having an outlet opening disposed to direct a stream of inert gas vertically downward into the open top of its container, and means for connecting a source of inert gas to said conduits comprising a pair of co operating valve members including a stationary valve member and a rotatable valve member arranged to permit the inert gas to flow continuously through said outlet openings. o

7. In a rotary closure applying machine, in combination, a pluralityof continuously moving closure applying heads movable in a rotary path,-rotary transfer means for transferring successive filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying heads, and purging means mounted on and movable with said rotary transfer means for injecting a stream of inert gas into the tops of successive filled containers during the transfer operation whereby to dilute and flush out the air in the space above the contents in the containers, said purging means being arranged tocontinue the purging operation to a point immediately prior to the application of a closure-to a container, said purging means including a plurality of radial conduits extended horizontally across and closely spaced from the tops of the containers,each conduit having an outlet. opening disposed to direct a stream of inert gas vertically downward into the open top of its container, and means for connecting a source of inert gas to said conduits comprising a pair of cooperating valve members including a stationary valve member and a rotatable valvemember arranged to permit the inert gas to flow through said outlet openings only When'the openings are in operative alignment with the open tops. of the filled containers being transferred.

8. In a rotary closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality of continuously movingclosure applying heads movable in a rotary path, a continuously rotated shaft and rotary transfer means mounted on said shaft for transferring filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying heads, purging means mounted on and movable with said rotary transfer means for injecting a stream of inert gas into the tops of successive filled containers wherebyto dilute and flush out the air in the space above the contents of the containers, during the transfer operation and to a point immediately prior to the application of a closure to a container, said purging means including a central hub member operatively connected to the upper end of said shaft and provided with an annular chamber, a plurality of conduits extended radially from said hub member and in communication with said annular chamber, each conduit extending horizontally across and a a closely spaced from the tops of the containers and having an outlet opening disposed to, direct a stream of inert gasverticallyzdownward into. the open top of its containe'r, said shaft having a central bore in communication with saidchamber, and means for connecting said centralbore to a-source of inert gas.

9. Ina rotary closure applying machine, in combination, a plurality of continuously moving closure applying heads, movable in a rotary path, a continuously rotated shaft and rotary transfer means mounted on said shaft for transferring filled containers from a supply thereof into operative relation to the closure applying heads, purging means mounted on and movable with said rotary transfer means for injecting a stream of inert gas ,into thetops of successive filled containers whereby to dilute and flush out the air in the space above the concentral hub member operatively connected to the upper end of said shaft and provided with an annular chaniher, a plurality of conduits extended radially from said hub member and in communication with said annular chamber, each conduit extending horizontally across and .closely spaced from the tops of the containers and having an outlet opening disposed to direct a stream of inert gas vertically downward into the open top of its container, said shaft having a central bore in communication with said chamber, means for connecting said central there to a source of inert gas, and means enclosing that portion of the purging means through which the containers are transferred for retaining some of the inert gas overflowing from the tops of the containers to maintain an atmosphere of. inert gas surrounding the tops of the containers during the transfer operation.

' References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Boyd et a1 Nov. 2, 

